The Porthcawl Elvis Festival is the biggest Elvis festival in the world, and every September the little seaside town of Porthcawl fills up with jumpsuits, quiffs and the sound of the King. If 2026 is your first time, this guide walks you through everything you need to know, including the full line-up and ticket prices for the shows at The Hi Tide.
When is the Porthcawl Elvis Festival 2026?
The 2026 festival runs from Thursday 24 to Sunday 27 September 2026. At The Hi Tide, right at Coney Beach, there are five ticketed shows across the weekend plus free entertainment running all day, every day. You will find us at The Hi Tide, Mackworth Road, Porthcawl CF36 5BT.
How did the Porthcawl Elvis Festival start?
The festival began in 2004, when local organiser Peter Phillips launched it as a fundraiser to help save Porthcawl's Grand Pavilion theatre. What started as a small community event has grown into the biggest Elvis tribute festival on the planet. These days more than 150 tribute artists perform hundreds of shows across the town's venues, pubs and streets, and around 40,000 fans descend on Porthcawl every September - making it bigger than the Elvis celebrations in Memphis or Las Vegas.
The Hi Tide is one of the festival's busiest venues, hosting its own line-up of ticketed shows across the whole weekend, right at Coney Beach with the beach, bars and arcade all on site.
The 2026 line-up at The Hi Tide
This year's bill brings together some of the best Elvis and tribute acts on the circuit, including 2025 festival winner Phillip Magee. Here is the full run of shows.
Thursday Evening - 24 September, 6:30pm to 11:00pm
£17.50 per ticket (no food included)
Compere: Paul Molloy. Featuring Leigh Casling, Arron Walker and Emilio Santoro.
Friday Evening - 25 September, 6:30pm to 11:00pm
£32 per ticket (one-course meal included)
Compere: Paul Molloy. Featuring Darren Graceland Jones (Elvis Country Show), Emilio Santoro, Arron Walker and Johnny Lee Memphis.
Saturday Afternoon - 26 September, 11:00am to 5:00pm
£35 per ticket (one-course meal included)
Compere: Rob Willis. Featuring Lewis Goddard, Leigh Casling, Paul Molloy and Arron Walker.
Saturday Evening - 26 September, 6:30pm to 11:30pm
£35 per ticket (one-course meal included)
Compere: Paul Molloy. Featuring Charlie Harper, Juan Lozano, Rob Willis and Johnny Lee Memphis.
Sunday Afternoon - 27 September, 11:30am to 7:00pm
£35 per ticket (one-course meal included)
Compere: Paul Molloy. Featuring Phillip Magee (2025 Festival Winner), Johnny Lee Memphis, Arron Walker and Leigh Casling & Simon Patrick (Double Trouble).
You can book any show online on our festival page, or call the team on 01656 782432.
How much are tickets?
Ticket prices depend on the show. Thursday evening is £17.50 and does not include food. Friday evening is £32, and the Saturday afternoon, Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon shows are £35 each. Every show except Thursday includes a one-course meal, so you can eat and be entertained under one roof. Not booked a show? There is still free entertainment all day across The Hi Tide, and everyone is welcome.
Why The Hi Tide is the place to be
The Hi Tide sits right at Coney Beach, so you are steps from the sand with a pub, restaurant, bars and an amusement arcade all on the same site. It is a proper all-in-one base for the weekend: watch a show, grab a meal, have a drink and step outside to the beach without leaving the venue. For a lot of festival-goers, it is the easiest and most comfortable way to do the Porthcawl Elvis Festival.
What to expect as a first-timer
1. Elvis everywhere
From the moment you arrive you will see Elvis in every era, from the '50s rock 'n' roll years to the '68 Comeback leather and the Vegas jumpsuits. Tribute artists travel from all over the world, and the standard is genuinely high. Expect singalongs, dancing and a real party atmosphere.
2. Busy streets, buzzing venues
Porthcawl gets busy over the festival weekend, and the atmosphere spills out across the town. The Hi Tide is one of the busiest and most popular venues, so book your shows ahead to be sure of a spot.
3. You don't need to be an Elvis obsessive
You do not have to know every song or own a jumpsuit to have a brilliant time. The festival is friendly, family-welcoming and easy to dip into, whether you come for one show or the whole weekend.
Practical tips for first-timers
Book your shows early
The ticketed shows at The Hi Tide sell out, especially the Saturday and Sunday sessions. Book online on our festival page or call 01656 782432 as early as you can.
Sort your parking and stay
Festival parking is available on Sandy Lane, Porthcawl (CF36 5BW). If you want to stay on site, you can book a touring or caravan pitch at Sandy Bay right beside the venue - see our touring page. Accommodation across Porthcawl books up fast for the festival, so plan ahead.
Dress the part (or don't)
Plenty of people dress up, from full jumpsuits to a simple quiff and shades, but there is no pressure. Come as you are and enjoy the show.
Pace yourself
With shows running from Thursday through Sunday, it is a marathon not a sprint. Eat, take breaks, enjoy the free daytime entertainment, and save some energy for the big Saturday and Sunday sessions.
What to do between shows
Between the ticketed shows there is free entertainment on all day at The Hi Tide, plus the beach, the prom and Porthcawl town right on the doorstep. The amusement arcade on site is great for families, and there is always somewhere to grab a drink and soak up the atmosphere.
Food and drink at The Hi Tide
Most of the shows include a one-course meal, and the bars and kitchen are open across the weekend for everything from a quick bite to a proper sit-down meal. Take a look at our food and drink page for what is on.
Why people keep coming back
The Porthcawl Elvis Festival has a loyal following, and it is easy to see why: world-class tribute acts, a seaside setting, and a warm, friendly crowd that treats it like a yearly reunion. Do it once and you will understand why so many people already have next year's dates in the diary.
Final word
Whether you come for one show or the full four days, the 2026 Porthcawl Elvis Festival at The Hi Tide is set to be a brilliant weekend. Get your tickets booked, sort your parking and your stay, and we will see you at The Hi Tide. Book your shows on the festival page or call 01656 782432.
